Taoiseach tipped to counter Sinn Féin's Seanad selection with unionist pick 

It has been suggested Micheál Martin will appoint Ian Marshall to counteract Sinn Féin’s candidate Conor Murphy, who the party has put forward to represent Northern nationalists

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has strongly indicated that women will feature strongly on his selected list, after he was criticised for the low number of females chosen among his Cabinet and Junior ministerial ranks. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins

Ulster unionist Ian Marshall is to be appointed by the Taoiseach to the Seanad in a bid to counter Sinn Féin’s selection for the upper house.

Mr Marshall, who served in the Seanad between 2018 and 2020, is expected to be joined by former Fine Gael TD Noel Rock. Both men are tipped to be among the Taoiseach's 11 nominations.